Headline inflation increased to 4.4 percent in January, up from 4.1 percent in December but remaining within the Bank of Botswana’s 3 – 6 percent objective range. Inflation decreased for two commodity groups: food and non-alcoholic beverages (from 3.9 to 3.6 percent); and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (from 4.9 to 4.7 percent). However, this was more than offset by increased inflation for: alcoholic beverages and tobacco (from 6.8 to 8.3 percent); clothing and footwear (from 5.7 to 6.0 percent); health (from 5.3 to 7.2 percent); transport (from 1.8 to 1.9 percent); recreation and culture (4.5 to 4.9 percent); education (4.7 to 7.4 percent); and restaurants and hotels (from 7.0 to 8.5 percent). Inflation was unchanged for: housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.4 percent); communication (0.4 percent); and miscellaneous goods and services (1.9 percent).

The trimmed mean measure of core inflation increased from 4.0 to 4.1 percent, and inflation excluding administered prices increased from 4.7 to 5.2percent.